Trucking Through the States

The one issue that dominated most trucking association executives’ time and attention in 2000 was the run-up in fuel prices. Barring a dramatic turnaround, lofty pump prices are likely to stay around for awhile, prompting many state associations to make alleviation of that cost to truckers a priority for the coming year.

Trucking groups in Delaware, Massachusetts and Vermont are lobbying for reductions in their states’ fuel tax rates. Many more state groups are working simply to maintain the status quo as their lawmakers seek to fill funding holes through fuel tax increases.

The Arkansas Trucking Association has targeted for repeal an Arkansas law that would automatically increase state fuel tax rates if federal fuel taxes are suspended or reduced. Despite industry and some public calls for suspension of the federal fuel tax to ease the cost burden on fuel buyers, congressional attempts were thwarted by the leadership before gaining any momentum.

Another issue that seems to be on state associations’ hit list for next year is making the regulatory burden lighter for their member carriers.

Associations in Georgia, Kansas and Oklahoma hope to streamline the regulatory agencies with responsibility over trucking, and the Arizona and Alabama groups will try to convince lawmakers to approve permanent trailer plates.

To see what else the state associations were up to this year, and what they plan to do in 2001, check out the legislative issues section of each state profile.

he profiles also include a summary of the taxes and fees each state levies on trucking.

The truck registration fees are an approximation based on a hypothetical interstate truck traveling all its miles in one state. Obviously this does not happen in real life, but it allows for a comparison. The data were supplied by American Trucking Associations.

The registration fees are based on a five-axle tractor-trailer valued at $100,000, weighing 80,000 pounds and traveling 80,000 miles. Operating authority fees and property, sales and excise taxes are not included.

The total user fee is calculated by adding the registration fee to the approximate amount of fuel the hypothetical truck would burn in a year — 14,035 gallons — multiplied by the state’s fuel tax rate. Each state is then ranked from highest total fees to lowest.

The maximum speed limits in each state also came from American Trucking Associations. The source for the 1999 roadside inspection data is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

The numbers in parentheses indicate state ranking regarding total user fees.